Ok, after reading the other reviews I felt compelled to write a review. I was on the Island, Oct 9-11th. I loved it so much I booked it agian for this October and plan on many returns to Jost Van Dyke and Sandcastles.

I found SandCastles after being one of those many day-excursion visitors that was complained about in another review. The beach is beautiful and breathtaking. Yes, it can get crowded, but no more crowded than any other beach in the Caribbean.

Mic, the Bartender is wonderful and always ready with a smile and a drink. If you haven't had a "Painkiller", there is no other like the original found at the "Soggy Dollar Bar".

Tina and other Mangement staff were wonderful. We had one maintenance
problem with our room. Electrical outlet blew a fuse or something and caused our Ceiling Fan to stop. Roger was quick on it and we didn't have any problems after that. We stayed in Cottage Three. Not on the beach, but only a quick (short walk). Short being about 30 yards.

Yes, there are sandflies. I learned long ago that you need spray. Sray was available at the bar and in the rooms. We ate out one night and won't make that mistake again. Although the food was good, we could have saved the taxi fare and ate in the resturant at the hotel. The food was average, but good. The breakfast was filling and lunch is just that....ala carte from the menu. We got busy on the beach, we almost missed it one day.

So, if you are looking the Westin or Ritz Carlton. This isn't it. If you are looking to make new friends and enjoy yourself on the beach this is the place. I too didn't notice any of the Honeymooners complaining about their stay. Even when one couples luggage didn't even make it for the first 3 days they were there. What more do you need other than some sunblocker and bathing suit?

When you are ready for a slice of Heaven make the trip and try to make a reservation. This place is so popular, that if you are priviledged enough to get to stay you better make your return reservation before you leave. I actually took a friend who lives on St Thomas and they thought this was Heaven.

We have stayed at Sandcastle 3x and have booked the 4th for this Dec(07), and can hardly wait!
This property is by far the best place we have ever stayed to relax in the world. We have travelled from Hawaii, Thailand, Cancun, Acapulco, to many other spots in the Caribbean, if you want to relax with SERVICE, this is the place. If you want nightlife and partying, this is not.
If we could come 2x per year, we would be there.

This was not my first trip to Sandcastle and certainly won't be my last. I have been traveling to the West Indies for close to 30 years and put this on the top of my list of experiences. The whole staff looks after your every need. Sandy greeted me like an old friend and Roger got my bags to my room. When I got to the bar Mic was already preparing a painkiller which the hotel's bar the Soggy Dollar is world famous for. I noted a post here regarding the busy beach, yes it does get busy sometimes but nothing like beaches in other places like Jamaica, the Caymans or even Cane Garden Bay and the crowd is just to get to the bar. The group there is always diverse and very interesting dotted with the occasional celebrity. The rest of the beach is pretty much empty. It is very hard to do any kind of research on Sandcastle and their Soggy Dollar without finding out that they have been voted the most popular bar on the beach in the whole Caribbean by at least two different publications and for several years. Any research will tell you it is very popular during the day. But those seeking solitude just take a short walk down the beach. As for the food, the chef (Oliver) is considered one of the best in the islands, his food is amazingly good and gets constant raves. In the several times I've stayed there I have met maybe one couple unhappy, but they were looking for something like the Ritz Carlton not a 6 room boutique hotel. As for all trips to the islands I brought my own bug spray but found I didn't use it that much. I must say that the actions attributed to Sandy are extremely out of character as is the left in the dark (all guest are escorted to their rooms as the rooms do not have numbers and they want to make certain the guests are settled. Flashlights are provided as well. As far as dinner, Saturday is the chef's night off but the hotel makes transportation available to one of the places that stay open year round. I've met a good many honeymoon couples at Sandcastle and all of them were so happy their research led them there as they couldn't imagine a better place for the honeymoon. I've kept in touch with many I've met there and all look forward to getting back as soon as possible. I guess the proof is the return rate. The hotel has a very high rate of return guests, higher than any place I've ever seen making reservations hard to come by many times of the year.

My husband and I just returned from 7 days at Sand Castle on Jost Van Dyke. October 7-14, 2006. I found Sandy, the manager to be terse and not a people person.

We arrived Saturday night around 7 only to find out the hotel restaurant was not open and nothing on the island was open yet because of the season. No one told us that. Would've been nice to know. She seemd to not care either. She also dumps you out in the dark, no flashlight, you lug your own suitcases to your room and that's it.

The next day, we awoke to beautiful, private beach and water. By 11:30 it was packed with people. Boats come up and moor, then loads of people come to the Soggy Dollar bar. So all day your "private" getaway becomes a nightmare. If you like this, then great. But we had hopes of peace and quite. You have to claim your chairs early or the drunk visitors will take over.

That said, Tina was great. (ANother manager) And the other staff we're great. Mic the bartender is wonderful. But Sandy has to go.

When it was time to leave, even though I had tried to talk to her about it the day prior and I even used her computer to check my flights, she claimed I had not let her know we were leaving the next day and so we had no bill ready, no cab, nothing. Her explanation: You can't do anything last minute here. (Well, I didn't think I had.)

Considering how much you spend to be there, you'd think they'd be on top of that for y ou.

THE FOOD. Ugh. It was horrible. One night, no one could even eat their lamb it was so tough. And yet nothing else was offered to us. The fish? Salmon!! That's not native to the BVIs is it? Fishy, too. The only good meals are breakfast. And youhave to start your own coffee in the morning....

One day, they trimmed trees around our cottage. They left all the branches. I finally moved them myself, as they were in front of our door.

ANd OMG, the mosquitos and sand fleas will eat you alive. Here is a picture of my huhsband's ankle (can't show the rest). Two of the other women staying there looked as if their backs had been overtaken. Big, nasty bites covered them.

I have to say, we have been to many places in the BVIs and if you want peace, quite, killer service, spend a little more and go to PETER ISLAND. We will next year.